Slicing machine



May 7, 1935. w. BfBRoNADER SLICING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l lllll l-Jllllll May 7, 17935. w. B. BRoNANDl-:R 2,000,508

SLICING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /f/ 5,6 /6/ lllln||||||uu1|l1t ullnnnnuu ATTORNEYS May 7, 19`35 0 w. B. BRONANDER A 2,000,508

SLICING MACHINE lFiled Feb. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 7, 1935 i UNITED STATES wilhelm 1a-Brommer, Montclair, lN. J. Application February-27, 1031, Serial No. 518,631 y v 17 claims. y (01146-153) This invention relates to slicing machines and particularly to machines for slicing material, such as loaves of bread.

At the present time there is a growing demandl in the baking trade for the delivery of4 loaves of bread in sliced form. ItisV dillicult to slice fresh loaves since the bread issoft and ,tendstof crush under the pressure of the slicing means;

This invention has for its salientobject toV provide a machine of the character specified that will operate efficiently and will have a maximum capacity or output. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a slicing machine so constructed and'arranged Further objects of the invention will appearfrom the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in whichy Y Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a machine constructed in accordance withthe invention; e

Fig. 2 is a top plan view in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine show in Fig. 1; f

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, illustrating the cutting knives;` y

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevationY taken through the cutting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary' elevation, partly in section, showing a portion of one of the cutting knives; Y

Fig. '7 is asectional elevationtaken at right angles to Fig. 6; f

of the machine shown Fig. 8 is a plan view of a comb or knife retain-' ing strip; y Y

Fig.'9 is an elevational view of one of the links for connecting the reciprocating cutting knivesto the reciprocating mechanism for the knives;

Fig. 10 is an elevationalview, partly in section, showing the feed chains Which form the conveyor for delivering the loaves from the kslicing lmechanism and the method of mountingthe abutmentsl The invention briefly described consists of a machine having a guideway or chute for feeding and guiding loaves,` two sets of cutting mechanisms arranged on each side of the feeding and guiding chute, means operatable yto alternately deliver loaves to the two sets of cutting mechanisms, means for feeding the loaves alternatelyV through the cuttingv mechanisms and for discharging the loaves on an intermittently operatable conveyor. The feeding devices for feeding the loaves through the cutting mechanisms and the discharge conveyor are so operated and /so synchronizedin their operation that loaves will be delivered to the conveyor alternately from the two sets of feeding devices and will bev deposited in consecutive or successive spacesl on the conveyor. It will be obvious that the operations of4 the feeding devices and the ,discharge conveyor' must be so timed that the loaves will be delivered at the proper period in the operation of the conveyor since the sliced loaves must be supported atboth ends. 1 a

Further details of theinvention will appear from the following description. y

In the embodiment of the invention illustratedV in the drawings, the machine 'comprises a frame 2U on which is centrally supported a chuteor inclined guideway 2| for conducting the loaves downwardly. At each side of the guideway there` is provided a setof cutting knives, indicated at 22 and .23. Y

At the lower end of the chute 2| is a Wall 25V against which the front loaf. in the chute will come to rest.v Supporting rails 30 extendtrans-` versely across the front of the machine and `beneath the loaf disposed against the wall 25, thesev rails being provided for supporting the loaf as it is fed-transversely in one direction or the other to one of the slicing mechanisms.

, The wall 25 -is preferably removably mounted. Ifit is desired to feed the loaves directly to the conveyor to be conducted to the wrapping machine without slicing, Vthe shelf can be removed, permitting the loaves to reach the conveyor from the chute 2|. y Y I.

The loaves are alternately fedto the right and to the left by means of mechanism illustrated particularly in Fig; 1.v This mechanism consists of a block 3| having a pair of plates or bracketsA 32 extending upwardly therefrom. The blockr3| is pivotally mounted onV the upper ends of a pair of parallel arms 33 and 34, which in turn are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on fixed pivots 35-and 36. Ay link 31 connects the arm 1 33 to a crank 38 which is mounted on` a shaft 39 driven by a sprocket 40. The sprocket 40 is driven `by a chain connection 4I from a sprocket 42 mounted on a shaft 43. The shaft 43 also has mounted thereon a pair of sprocket Wheels 44 and 45 on which are mounted chains 46 and 41 which are driven intermittently from any desired driving connections and preferably from a wrapping machine W disposed at the right of the slicing machine and to which the loaves are delivered from the slicing machine. The sprockets 44 and 45 and the chains 46 and 41 form a part of the discharge or delivery conveyor by means of which the loaves are discharged from the Wrapping machine. Further details of this conveyor will be hereinafter described.

The sprocket wheels 42 and 40 are so dimensioned that the wheel 40 will be rotated one-half of one revolution for each `complete revolution.

tion that the loaves from the chute 2| will be fed alternately in opposite directions by means of the reciprocating movement of the block 3| and brackets 32 carried thereby. In Fig. 1 the position of the lateral feeding mechanism for the loaves is shown at the left, a loaf having been fed to the slicing devices 22. Upon the next movement of the feeding mechanism the loaf at the bottom of the chute ZI'will be fed to the right' in position to be sliced by the cutting devices 23.

Cutting mechanism The cutting mechanism comprisesv a plurality of blades 5D which arevconstantly reciprocated in vertical planes. The blades are connected in pairs by means of sleeves 5|, as shown in Fig; '1.

Each pair of blades is connected at the lower end thereof to the upper end of a link 52 which is pivoted at 53 to a lug 54 'carried by an eccentric strap 55 mounted on an eccentric 56. Each of the eccentrics 56 is mounted on a shaft 51 and it *i will be noted froml the showing in Fig. 4 that the eccentrics 5B are angularly displaced around the shaft relative to each other. The shaft 51 has a longitudinal bore or opening 58 therethrough into which extends an oil feed pipe- 59 having lateral openings 69 for discharging the oil into the bore 58 of the shaft 51. The oil is conducted from the bore through conduits 6| to the peripheries of the eccentrics 56, thus lubricating the bearing of the l eccentric straps on the eccentric.

A comb 19 is also positioned adjacent the upper ends of the knives whichA are held in the notches of the lcomb by means of flat springs 1i. Each spring 1| is fixedly supported at 12 and is notched at its free endto receive thetwo knives of thev pair. The knives are also preferably notched, as

shown at'l3.v Y n y The oil conduit 59 receives and conducts 'oil under pressure and the eccentrics are surrounded by a casing 15 which is provided with a return feed pipe 16 for the oil.

The shaft 51 is driven by a pulley 11 which is connected by a belt 18 to a pulley 19 mounted on the shaft of a motor M. The cutting knives are driven continuously.

Mechanism for feeding loaves through cutters The feeding devices for feeding the loaves through the cutters and to the vdelivery ordischarge conveyor are exactly the same in construction for both sets of cutters and differ only in the, timing of operation thereof. Each feeding mechanism comprises a feeding head having a plurality of fingers 86 projecting therefrom and spaced apart distances equal to the distances between the cutting blades 50. Each head 85 is carried by a shank or plunger 81 which is pivoted to the upper ends of a pair of arms 88 and 89, the arms bei'ng'mounted at theirlower ends on fixed pivots 90 and 9|. One of the'arms 89 has Vprojecting laterally therefrom, a stud 92 on which is mounted a. roller 93. The roller 93 is disposed in a cam groove 94 formed in a cam 95 carried by a shaft 96. Shaft 96 is provided with a gear 91 which meshes with a gear 98 mounted on a shaft 99 extending into and forming a part of the wrapping machine W. Shaft '99 is driven in any desired manner and through the gear connection described drives the shaft 96.

Since the feeding mechanisms for both sets of cutters are exactly alike except for timing, the foregoing description will sufiice for both sets of feeding devices. Both cams are mounted on the shaft 95 but one of the cams is angularly spaced from the other cam.

It will be obvious from the description in the preceding paragraphs that the engagement of the cam 95 with the roller 93 of one of the arms 89 will determine themovement of the plunger or shank 81 and therefore of the feeding head 85 and fingers 85. The sequence of operation of the various parts will be described later in the specioation with reference to the diagrammatic showing in Fig. 11. Y

Conveyor mechanism The conveyor for delivering the loaves fromv the V'slicing machine is more particularly illus- .f

trated in Fig. 10, in whichrit will be seen that lugs or abutments |00 are carried by the chain 46 and lugs or abutments |0| are carried by the chain 41. The sprocket wheels 44 and 45 can be rotatably adjusted on the shaft `43 to any desired i angular relation with respect to each other andr after adjustment to the desired positions these sprockets are locked by means of set screws H0. It will be obvious that the chain 46' can be advanced or moved to the right relative to the chain 41 and thatsuch `a movement willcause the lugs |00 to be moved toward the lugs IM. This wil-l decrease the distance between the lugs |69 and |84 and this 'change can be made to accommodate different sizes or lengths of loaves. It will be obvious that support must be provided for the twoend slices of each loaf as the sliced loaf is fed along" the conveyor to the wrapping machine. Y

'I'he'lugs lilllV and |0| extend upwardly through longitudinal slots |02 in a shelf |03 and are provided at their upper ends with plates |04 adapted to engage the end slices ofthe loaves; Theshelf |03 is provided at its outer end with a vertical wall |85 against which the loaf is fed by the fingers 86.

through the cutters to the conveyor. At theleft` in this figure are shown four positions ofthe camA forV controlling the movement of the feeding de# vices at the left of the chute 2|,and at the extreme right in .this figure corresponding positions are shown for the cam controlling the feeding of the loaves to the cuttersat the right of the chute 2 I. The positions of the ,cams are shown at90 intervals in the revolution thereof. f

The various positions of the feeding of the loaf through therr left hand cutter will first be described. The loaves which are fed to this cutter are designated by the reference character A V'and in each of the four positions of movement of the loaf` and` of the cam,` the position of the loaf at the beginning of the 90 interval of. movement is indicated by showing the loaf in full lines and the position at the end ofthe 90 interval of movement isshown by dotted lines. The four posif tions of the cam are indicated by I, II, III and IV, and the direction of .rotation ofthe cam is shown by an arrow.A In each case the cam rotates in an anti-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 11.v

At the beginning of the interval of movement ofthev canrdes'ignated by I, the loaf A is disposed at the bottom of the chute 2l and at the end of this movement the loaf is shownin the path of movement of the feeding head and fingers'85, 86. During this portion of movement of the cam the sectorof the vcam is formed onan arc andthe roller 93 is not moved in either direction.

During the portion of the cam movement designated II, the loaf Ais moved from a position directly in the rear of the cutter 22 into'thecutting blades. Y

In the interval III, the loaf AA has been pushed substantially through the cutting blades`22, and,

in the interval IV the loaf has been pushed from the cutter 22 onto the conveyor by means of which it is'conducted to the wrapping mechanism.

The cam at the right in Fig. 11 is angularly spaced' 180 from the cam at the left and the sequence of operation o na loaf as it is fed through the cutters 23 will nowrbe briefly outlined.

In thejoperation of this cam, the intervals III, IV, I and II correspond to the intervals I, II, III and IV 'of the'cam Aat the left. Starting with the interval III, the loaf B is fed from the chute to a position 'to be engaged by the feeding head which feeds the loaf through the knives 23. In the interval IV, the loaf B is fed into the knives 23. In the interval I, the loaf B is fed substantially through the knives 23. In the interval II, the sliced loaf is fed from the knives 23 to the conveyor and is discharged in the space left between the previously discharged loaves A, A.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that a loaf A will be discharged on the conveyor in` alternate spaces thereon and the loaves B will be discharged into the intervening spaces on the conveyor. Thus, in Fig. 1, a loaf B is shown in the front or advance space on the conveyor, a loaf A is shown immediately behind the loaf B, the space behind the loaf A being empty, and a second loaf A is shown in the space immediately in the rear of the empty space. During the movement of the cams corresponding to the position II, a loaf B is positioned on the conveyor between the loaves A, A. In the position III, the loaves are shownV on the cover in this sequence A, B, A.-` In the'position IV,the conveyor'has advanced the loaves are disposed thereon in the sequence, namely, B, A, emptyyA. i. f

From the foregoing .description it will be seen" following that `the loaveswill be fed through the two sets;v

Vanother step in its intermittent 'movementandf of cuttersv in sequence, the interval between the.V

operations of the two cams being 180. Further-'- more, theconveyor movement is so timed as tol feed the loaves to the conveyor at the end of each. slicing operation and in such a manner that the loaves from the two sets of cutters or slicing mechanisms will be arranged alternately, eachr space of the conveyor being lled by a sliced loaf.V

. It will be evident from the foregoing specifica,v

tion that a simple, practical and eflicientmachine has been devised for accomplishing the objects of the invention and that the machine constructed as described will have a maximum capacitywor to move articles to be sliced into operative posi-l v tion relative to said slicing mechanisms, means for feeding said 'articles through saidvslicing mechanisms, and. a conveyor, said feeding'ineans operating to feed said sliced articles into-alternate spaceson said conveyor.V 1

2. A slicing machine comprising tvvo'V sets of* slicing mechanisms, means operatable alternate-y ly to move articles to be sliced into operative posi-- tion relative Vto said slicing mechanisms, means for feeding said articles through said slicing mechanisms, a conveyor, and means for imparting Van intermittent feed to said conveyor, said article feeding means operatingito feed'said" sliced'articles into `alternate spacesl on said'cong' veyor.

3. A" slicing machine comprising means for guiding articles to be sliced, slicingmechanism including a plurality of constantly driven; spaced knives on each side of said guiding means, Ameans operatable alternately to feed articles from said guidingmeans to said slicing mechanisms, andmeans for feeding the articles through said slicing mechanisms. `1

4. A slicing machine comprising Vmeans for guiding articles to be sliced, slicing mechanism including a plurality of spaced, reciprocating, knives on each side of said guiding means, means operatable alternately to feed articles from said guiding means to said slicing mechanisms, and means for feeding the articles through said slicing mechanisms.

5. A slicing machine comprising means Vfor guiding articles to be sliced, slicing mechanism on each side of said guiding means, means operatable alternately to feed articles from said guiding means to said slicing mechanisms, a conveyor, and means for feeding the articles -through said slicing mechanisms and into alter-v nate spaces on said conveyor.

6. A slicing machine comprising two sets of slicing mechanisms, reciprocatable means operatable alternately to move articles to be sliced ing mechanisms, and a conveyor, means on saidv supports.

10. A slicing machine comprising two sets of f into operative Vposition relative to said slicingr mechanisms, andreciprocatablemeans for feeding said articles through said slicing mechanisms.

'7. A slicing machine comprising means for guiding articles to be'sliced, slicing mechanism on each side of vsaidguiding means, means operatable alternatelyv toy feed articles from vsaid guidingmeans to said slicing mechanisms, and means for feeding the articles through saidv slicing mechanisms, said last named means operatingto feed the articlesthrough said slicing mechanisms. at spaced intervals.

8. A slicing machine comprising means forv guiding articles to be sliced, slicing mechanism on each side of saidguiding means, means operatablealternately to feed articles from said guiding'means to said slicing mechanisms, and means for pushing the articles through said slicing mechanisms. Y

9. A slicing machine comprising two sets of slicing mechanisms, means operatable alternately to move articles to be sliced into operative position relative to said slicing mechanisms, means for feeding said articles through said slicconveyor for engaging andA supporting the ends of the sliced articles, said feeding means operating to feed said fsliced articles into alternate spaces on said conveyor and between said end means operatable alternately'to feed the articles endwise to said slicing mechanisms, Vmeans for feeding the articles through said slicing mecha-A nisms, and means for feeding the assembled sliced articles endwise away from said slicing mechanisms. Y

12. Avslicing machine comprising means for guiding articles to be sliced, slicing mechanismv disposed on each side of said guiding means, means operatable alternately to feed the articles endwise to said slicing mechanisms, `means for feeding the'articles through said slicing'mechanisms, and means operating at right angles to said last named feeding means for feeding the assembled sliced articles away from said slicing operatable first in one direction to move articlesy to be sliced endwise into operative position relative to one of said slicing mechanisms, andV thereafter in an opposite direction to move a succeeding article endwise to the other of said slicing mechanisms and means for feeding said articles through said slicing mechanisms.

15. A slicing machine comprising a plurality of spaced. slicing mechanisms, a guide for the articles to be sliced intermediate said slicing mechanisms, means operatable transversely of the guide first in one direction toward one of said slicing mechanisms to feed articles thereto and thereafter. in the opposite direction toward another of said slicing mechanisms to feed articles thereto, and means for feeding the articles through 'said slicing mechanisms. 1

16. A slicing machine comprising two sets of alternately acting slicing mechanisms, positive means operatable transversely of said means to move yarticles alternately horizontally and endwise into operative position relative to said slicing mechanisms, means for feeding said articles sidewise through said slicing mechanisms, and conveyor means synchronized with the last named means for intermittently receiving the sliced articles from said slicingrmechanisms and conveying eachof 'them as a unit to a wrapping machine. l

17. Aslicing mechanism comprising achute for articles to be sliced, a conveyor across the path of the chute adapted to receive articles from the chute, a removablestop for normally preventing movement of the articles direct from the chute to the conveyor, slicing mechanisms, means for normally engaging vthe articles as they reach the stop to feed them across the stop to the slicing mechanisms, and means for feeding the articles through the slicing mechanisms to the conveyor.

' WILHELM B. BRONANDER. 

